This book argues that public relations is not merely an organizational tool, but a powerful influence on social and political life. From carefully considered communication by multinational corporations, to government campaigns that manage public opinion, to the self-promotion of celebrities via social media, public relations is central to our individual and collective lives.
Understanding Public Relations introduces a socio-cultural approach to public relations as a way of analysing the growing importance of public relations in its social, cultural and political contexts. Encouraging a deeper and more critical understanding of its influence on society, Lee Edwards:
Explores public relations in relation to contemporary debates around promotional culture, discourse, globalisation, democracy and power
Considers how public relations frames vital discussions of race, gender, class and ethics
Brings theory to life with a range of case studies, including YouTube vlogging, the global fair trade movement and the 2016 EU referendum in the UK
Both accessible and provocative, this is an invaluable resource for students and researchers exploring public relations theory, critical public relations, strategic communication and promotional culture.
Chapter 1: Starting points: Defining socio-cultural research in public relations
Chapter 2: Public relations as promotion: The production and circulation of meaning
Chapter 3: Public relations, discourse and power
Chapter 4: A political economy of public relations
Chapter 5: Deliberative democracy and public relations
Chapter 6: Public relations and the public sphere
Chapter 7: Public Relations and globalisation
Chapter 8: Public relations as an occupational field: The professional project
Chapter 9: Race and Class in / and PR
Chapter 10: Feminist public relations: Performativity, Black feminism, postfeminism
Chapter 11: Ethics, Public Relations and Society
Chapter 12: Conclusion: Public relations beyond the organisation
